Tire-building apparatus



I I 2 1 Aug 927 J. R. GAMMETER TIRE BUILDING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 12. 1922 1 In lT m; m T H WW MM @& w

. 1927' a. R. GAMMETER TIRE BUILDI NG APPARATUS 12. l 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Patented "Aug, 23,

UNI TED STATES I P ATE -1-rm=;ms.

:rorm nromunram-orsxaon,01110, ASSIGNOB Tommi 3. r, ooonnrcIr-conrANY, 'ornnw Yonx, N. Y., A conrona'rro'n or'nnw'ronx.

run-BUILDING Arranmos. V

- "lpplloation'lllednecember 12, 192B. Serial I'm-606,888.

This invention "relates to tire-building apparatus and especially to apparatus for placing or incorporating bead members in pneumatic tires. 1 In the building of such tires it is 0:6 great,importancelthatlthe' bead memberbe'prese'nted to thelpartially built tire in a position exactly concentric therewith, since the tacky condition of the -ti re-building materials is such as' practically to prohibit the adjustment of the bead member after it has come in contact with the plies of the tire against which it is placedyand" it isalso important that the bead member be ad-u "hesively, pressed against said plies while'jheld' "in true circular form. Where, as in common practice, the tire 1s built upon a core revolvably SUIBPOI-tfidflrllPOD an overhanging support 01' 0hl10k,;a, problem has-been en-v countered in the accurate and rapid placing of the bead on the rear side "of thetire, which is to say the {side from which the chuck is supported, since the bead isgpreferably passed over the chuck beforethe core is mounted thereon and the chuck support is in thewa of an operator infinall'y placing the bead y hand,

My'chief object is to provide improved tire-building apparatus and particularly bead placing apparatus adapted for rapid and accurateoperation, and a more specific objectis to provide efiicient, accurate and Largiely automatlc means for placing the rear ea./ Of the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevation, with parts broken away and parts 1n section, of a portion of a tire-building machine embodying a preferredform of mylinvention, with the work in place,thebead nanipulating portions of the apparatus being sectioned on line 1-'-1 of Fig. 2, but with parts indifferent relaii ve agngu lar positions from those shown in Fig. 2 2 isxan elevation "of the ap aratus,

, :from; the let-trot Fig. 1,. with the t1re-su'p-' porting:- chuck removeduand with, parts 'brokelrawayr ri s-iss'caos on the line' 3-3 of Fig.

.l, showingrin elevation the timing mechan ism for actuating the bead placing apparatus. v

jingiand ina "similar bearing "end {off'the casting 14 is a s Fig.- 4 is a fragmentary sectionvof a part of" the bead placing apparatus," showing the parts at afcertain-sta(ge of their operation.

"Referring "to' 'the rawin'gs', 1 .15811 upright c'astin or'hollow standard formed at one side wit an opening '11 surrounded by a. boss 12 to which is securedby screw bolts '13, 13 a hollow, horizontally projecting, generally; cylindrical casting '14, internally formed, near its-outer end with a partitionlike structure iii-having a bearing"w ith a bushing: 16" therein;substantially coaxial with the casting 14:."M0llllt8d insaid bear- '17 *in' the rear aft 18, adapted to be driven jby a worm-gear 19' rotatably bearing 17 and a-jaw-Iclutch" member 20, provided with a shipper fork-20*, and a acking spring 20", said clutch-member .being spil-ined onthe rear portion of said shaft and-"eingadapted to engage a jaw-clutch member-21 secured in the hub of said-worm gear, the'latter being adapted to becontinu Patent "No; 1,285,928 of November 26, 1918,-

to J. f'Ii. Butler; "24"i's'atire core mounted on said chuckal d hav'ing thereon a partly builttire. carcass 125,11. s is The. casting. 15 is finished'fwitha smooth 7 cylindrical outer surface, being "thus adapted to actasastationary piston rod and-near its middle I is I secured" thereon an'annular structure '26" including an "annular support ,,.mounted ion saidmlsha'tt" between the rear- 27 0 eah=side 'Of"Wh'lCh"i' secured annular ackingfri-ngs 28; held thereoniT-by retainmg *plates '28, v 28, said structure constitut ing-a stationary piston, upon which is mounted a cylinderp29-iprovided at. its; ;re-. spectivc" ends 3 witha-nnular members 30,-31 "fitting the casting +14 and. L-shaped,-.- annular,- clampinganembersf32, 33 secured "thereto by screws, to retain'annular' packings 34', 35

within the members 30, 31, the members-30,

31 thus constituting cylinder-heads for the cylinder 29. 36 is an annular stop, member t readed onto the outer end of the casting .14 to limit the forward movement of the cylinder 29,

' Slidably mounted upon the outer end of the cylinder 29 is'a ring or bead-support mounting 37 formed with three sleeves 38,

- 38 projecting radially outward therefrom,

at 44in Fig. 1, Sai

ring is and slidably mounted in said sleeves respectivel are the inwardly projecting portions of el owed arms 39, 39 secured to an annular member 40, the latter having secured to its front face a bead-supporting rin 41 having a cylindrical outer face adapte to receive andsupport an annular tire-bead 42. Also secured to the front face of the annular memher ll), at intervals, are positioning brackets 43., 43 having slopin vlaces such as is shown brackets thus being adapted, by engagement with the inner periphery of the core 24, to guide the beadsupporting ring 41 into exact concentric relation with said core as the bead-supporting resented thereto, helical compression springs 45, 45 being mounted respectively on the arms 39, between the elbows of the latter and the sleeves 38 so as to hold the bead-supporting ring, somewhat yieldingly, in suntially such concentric position as it approaches the core and before its positioning brackets 43 engage the cores The arms 39 are shown as being formed in two pieces, tenoned to -ether, at 39, for convenience in substituting bead supporting rings for tires of 'difierent sizes.

elournaled upon the cylinder 29 back of the structure justdescrihed is a webbed, spider-member 46 formed with arched openings compression spring 56 intei'posed between the exterior end face of said socket and a nut on the end of said reduced portion, said .ing 10. The casting 10 is formed with an elbowed arm l9't-hus being 'eldingly ur ed radially inward, and prevei i ted from tu ning, in the socket. --'lhe outer end portion of each a 49 extends toward the bead-supporting ring ll and has loosely journaled at its efiremitv, on an axis radial with respect to said bead-supporting rin a bead-pressing roller 51 having a wor 'ng surface of such cross-sectional contour as to lit the bead 42,'the inner, radial face of each of said bead-pressing rollers slidably resting upon the outer surface of the bead-supporting rin g fiunder premre of the 1 spirmg extending mounted upon the reduced inner endportion of the arm 49. Said rollers are thus adapted to run circumferentially around the beadsu'pporting ring, sliding-the bead laterally thereon and pressing'it. against the partially built tire carcass.

To first present the bead-supporting ring 41 to' the tire and then permit continued movement of the bead-pressing rollers toward the tire-core after the beadsupport- I ing ring has been sopresented to and stopped by the core, helical compression springs,

.from the core, by the L-shaped, annular member 32.

For driving thecylinder 29- forward and backward respectively, upon its stationar iston 26, a pressure-fiuid pipe 55 l s rom a four-way control valve, 55 (shown most clearly 'in Fig. 3) through the interior of the casting 14 and intothe front end of the cylinder 29, and a similar pipe 56 leads from said valve to the rear end of said cylinder. Said valve is provided withan inlet, fluid-supply pipe 57, leadingi'rom a source of pressure flui such as a com-.

pressed air tank (not sh 11), an exhaust pipe 58, and a hand-operable control lever 59, and on the hub of the latter is mounted a lever 60 provided with an over-center weight 61 adapted to hold the valve in position either to charge the pipe 55 and exhaust the pipe 56 or vice versa. 4

For driving the spider-member 46 to run the rollers 51 about the bead-supporting ring 41, and so press the head 42 against the tire-carcass, a gear-ring 62 is secured to said spider member To screw bolts 62*, 62 and meshed with a pinion 63 secured to a shaft 64 journaled in a bracket 65 projecting latorally from the c linder 29, and slidably journaled in a brac et 66 secured to the castaperture (not shown) adapted to admit the rear end of the shaft. Said shaft is thus adapted to move forward and backward with the/cylinder 29. Splined on said shaft betwen the bracket 66 and the casting 10 is a gear 67 havin a hub portion formed with a worm 68, sai worm being meshed with aworm-gear' 69 journaled onthe bracket 66 and provided with alaterally projecting stud 70 adapted at each revolution of the worm-gear 69 to lift aflever 71 pivoted on said bracket. A link 72 ishinged to the- 50 mounted upon the chuck, and the underhand lever 59, projects downward, with a loose fit through an aperture in the lever 71 and is provided with an adjustable collar 73 adapted to be engaged by the lever 71, the stud 7O being thus adapted, at each revolution of the worin gear 69, to lift the Wei ht Y 61 over center to throw. the control va vs 55 into position to retract the'cylinder 29 and parts carried thereby from the tire-core,

the valve being then held in such osition by the over-center weight while the ever 71 further departs from the collar 73.

For driving the shaft Y64, and thereby driving the bead-pressing rollers 51, a

inion 74, meshed with the gear 67, is secured to Da shaft 75 journaled in the casing 10 and provided at its'rear end with a sprocket 76, said sprocket being adapted to be driven by a motor'and-a sprocketchain therefrom (not shown). electric wires leading to the motor from a normall open switch '7 8 provided with a spring-backed push'button 79. Adjustably secured in a bracket 80 projecting frpm the lower part ofthe cylinder 29 is an arm 80 provided with' a spring-backed stud. 81

adapted to contact said push-button and 4 thereby close .said switchto start the motor I shown, and is ready for to be built, is passed over the overhanging.

chuck 23, preferably before the tire-core is mounted upon the chuck, and mounted upon the bead-supporting ring 41 adjacent the bead-pressing rollers 51, the latter overlapping said ring only a little way, from the rear, due to the separation of the bead supporting ring 41 and thespider-member-46 y the springs '52.' Thecore 24 is' then bead plies 25 of a tire carcass are built upon the corein any known or suitable man-. nor, for whichpurpose the chuck may be,

driven, through the gear 19 and clutch 21, 20, while the bead placing apparatus remains retracted and inactive.

When the carcass is partially built as t e head, the operator pulls down the hand lever '59, the overcenter weight 61 then continuing to hold it down, and thus charges the front end of the cylinder 29, driving forward the latter, with the bead placing mechanism thereon the shaft 64 sliding in the gear 67 splined therev.tire thereon, just before the movement'of 77, 77 are;

- Meanwhile the worm gear by forces the weight 61 over center, the conon. As the cylinder approaches the core the positioning brackets 43 slidingly. engage the inner periphery of the core, accurately posi-- tioning the bead-supporting ring 41 with relation to the core and-the partially built said ring is-stopped by contact with the tongue of the core. The spider member 46 continues to' be carried forward with the cylinder 29, compressing the springs 52, and

at approximately the time when the beadsupportingvring is stopped, .the stud 81 on the arm 80* contacts. the push-button 79 and starts the motor, which, through the sprocket 76, gear 62, and intermediate driving members above described drives the spider member 46, running the bead-pressing rollers 51 circumferentially around the beadsupporting ring, longitudinally of the bead, while they continue to move toward the tirecore and slide the bead .llaterall onsaid ring andpress it in place against t e partially built the carcass 25.

69 is slowly driven by the worm 68, com leting-one'revolution when the bead-pressing rollers have finished their work, at which time the stud 70 on said worm gear, reaching the upper part of its orbit, lifts the lever 71 and theretrol valve 55 thereby being operated to exhaust the front end and charge the rear end of the cylinder 29. Said cylinder and the parts mounted thereon are thereb retracted from the tire-core, and as tli e backward the stud 81 leaves the push-button 79, turning off the motor and so stopping the drive of the bead-placing apparatus.

- The. retaining member 32 on the front end of the cylinder contacts the ring 37 and so 105v compels the bead-supporting ring to withdraw from the tire-core, leaving the bead 42 in place u n the partiall built tire carcass, while t e springs 52 old the vbeady move supporting structure away from the spidermember 46, in position to receive the next bead. Hand operated apparatus having bead- 'engaging parts similar to thoseabove described may be used for placing the opposite bead of the tire, after which the build ing of the tire is completed, the core with the tire thereon removed from the apparatus, and the operation repeated.

The bead placing apparatus being-slidably mounted, and. the bead supporting and p'ressing inechanism being adapted to' osition itself with respect to the, core, the ead may be very accurately laced. Separate inembers'being employed or supporting the bead and for pressing it against the tire, the 1 head may be presented in true circular form, and pressed into lace by rolling pressure, whereby good I ion .is obtained. The placing and rolliiig of the bead is substantially automatic the operator being req i d onlyto place the bead upon the ring 41 and cycle of operations.

. constructed tire while holding the bead in circular form by engagement with its inner periphery, a. bead-pressing roller, means for relativelyrunnlng said roller longitudinally of the bead to press said head agamst said tire while the bead remains upon the presenting means, and means operatively connecting the bead-presenting means and the v 15 bead-pressing roller to actuate them in timed relation.

2. Bead lacing apparatus cOmprising a structure a apted to support the bead in oilcular form by engagement with the inner periphery of the latter, a bead-pressing roller, and means mounted coaxiall and rotatable with relation to the said ead-sup: porting structure for running said roller longitudinally of a bead while the bead re-- mains mounted onsaid structure to press said bead against a tire structure.

3. Bead placing apparatus comprising a bead-supporting structure, a mounting journaled concentrically with relation to said structure, a bead=pressing roller journaled on said mounting and adapted to run longitudinally of a bead mounted on said structure, and yielding means urging said structure and said mounting apart in an axial direction but adapted to be overcome to permit said roller to force said bead laterally of said bead-supporting structure.

4. In combination with a tire-core and means for supporting the same, bead-placing apparatus comprising a bead-supporting structure adapted to be presented to sai core, means on said structure for centering it. with respect to the core as it isso pre- 7 sented, a bead-pressing roller, and means for running said roller longitudinally of a bead mounted on said structure to press said bead against a tire-structure on said core.

5. In combination with a tire-core and means for supporting the same, bead-placing apparatus comprising a bead-supportin ring having a cylindrical outer sur ace an adapted to be presented to said tire-core, a

bead-pressing roller journaled on an axis radial with res ect to said ring and adapted to be run longitudinall of a bead mounted thereon to press said yieldingly holding said roller against the outer. face of said bead-supporting ring as it is so run.

6. In combination with a tire-core andmeans for supporting the same, bead placing apparatus comprising an annular beadsupport mounting adapted to be moved into a position adjacent said core, a bead support mounted on said bead-support mountapparatus comprising ead, and means for ing, ieldin means interposed operativel betwe en said bead support mounting and said bead-support and a apted to permit the latter to shift-the position of its axis with relation to that of said bead-support mounting, and means on said bead-support for centering it with relation to said core as it is presented to the; latter.

7. In combination with a tire-core and means for supporting the same, bead placin apparatus comprising a bead-support sli ab y mounted adjacent said core and adapted to be moved axially of thecore to present it to the latter, a slidably mounted rollersupporting structure adapted to follow said bead-support, and a bead-pressing roller journale on said roller-supporting structure and adapted to be run longitudinally of a bead mounted on said bead-support, the latter and said roller-supporting structure being adapted for relative rotary movement and relative axial, sliding movement.

8. Bead-placing apparatus comprising a bead-su porting structure formed with-a cvlindrica outer face adapted to fit within the head to hold the latter in true circular form, the said face being of greater dimension than the, head in an axial direction, means for guiding said structure axially of a tire core topresent a bead on said structure to a partially-built tire onthe core, and means mounted for determinate movement toward the core with relation to the said structure and adapted to contact the'bead at f a plurality of circumferential positions and at the same time to slide the head on said structure into contact with the partially-built ire.

9. Bead placin apparatus comprising a structure adapte to support the bead by engagement with the inner periphery of the latter, a bead-pressin structure mounted to slide axially of said ead supportin struclow said bead-support, said bead-support and said bead-'presslng structure being adapt .ed for relative sliding movement.

11. In combination with a tire-core and a projecting shaft for supporting the same, tire-working apparatus comprising an annular piston surrounding said shaft, a cylinder surrounding said shaft and coacting with said piston, and a tire-building tool mounted to slide axially of said shaft and to be so actuated by said piston and cylinder. 12. In combination with a tire-core and a said, shaft'and constituting a piston rod,

a stationary piston mounted thereon,a cylinder vmounted on said piston and piston rod, means for supplying pressure fluid to,

each end of said cylinder while exhausting the other, and a tire-building tool mounted on said cylinder.

13. In combination with a tire-core and a projecting shaft for supporting the same, tire-working apparatus comprising a stationary, projecting member surrounding said shaft and constitutin a piston rod, a stationary piston mounte thereon, a cylinder mounted on said piston 'and piston rod, means for supplying pressure fluid to each end of said cylinder while exhausting the other, an annular head support mounted on said cylinder, a roller. support mounted on said cylinder, said bead-su port and said roller-support being adapted or relative rotarylmovement, and a roller journaled on said roller-support and adapted to run longitudinally of a bead mounted on said bead-support.

14. In combination with a tire-core and a projecting shaft for supporting the same,

tire-working apparatus comprising a stationary, projecting member surrounding said shaft and constituting a piston'rod, a stationary piston mounted thereon, a cylinder mounted on said piston and piston rod, means for supplying pressure fluid to each end of said cylinder while exhausting the other, an annular bead supporting structure slidably mounted on the front part of said cylinder, a roller-supporting structure rotatably mounted at a fixed location on said cylinder, back of said bead supporting structure, a roller journaled on said roller supporting structure and ada ted to press a bead mounted .on said head-supporting structure, yielding means adapted to urge said bead-supporting structure and said roller-supporting structure apart, and means for driving said roller supporting struc- 'ture. I

15. In combination with a tire-core and a projecting shaft for supporting the same, tire-working apparatus comprising a stationar projecting member surrounding said .s aft and constitutinga piston rod, a stationary piston mounted-thereon, a cylinder mounted on said piston and piston rod,

means for supplying pressure fluid-to eachv 16. In combination with a tire-core and a projecting shaft for supporting the sameT tire-working apparatus comprising a stationar pro ect ng member surrounding said s aft and constituting-a piston rod a stationary piston mounted thereon, a cylm der mounted on said piston and piston rod, means for supplying pressure fluid to each end of said cylinder while exhausting the other, tire-Working too1s,mounted on said cylinder, means for drivin said tools, and means associated with sai driving means for reversing said cylinder at a determinate stage in the operation of said driving means.

-'a stationary piston mounted thereon, 3. cylinder mounted on said piston and piston rod, means for supplying pressure fluid to each end of said cylinder while exhausting the other, tire-working tools -mounted on said cylinder, means for driving said tools, a contact member mounted onsaid cylinder and adapted to maintain said driving means in operation when said cylinder is in advanced position, adjacent said core, and means associated with said driving means for reversing said cylinder at a determinate stage in the operation of said driving means.

18. In combination with a tire-core and a projecting shaft for supporting the same, bead-placing apparatus comprising a beadsupporting ring surrounding said shaft and adapted to he slid axially thereof, a roller support mounted for axial sliding movement with relation to said shaft, a bead pressing roller journaled on said roller support and adapted to runlongitudinally of a bead mounted on said bead support, and

means for forcing said bead-support and said roller support axially of said shaft toward said core. Y

19; Tire-buildin apparatus comprising a tire core, an over anging structure constituting a mounting for said tire-core, a toolsu port mounted on said structure to slideaxially thereof, a tire-building tool rotatably 'mounted on said tool support, means for slidin said tool-support from and toward said tire core, and gearin connected to said tool for rotating it wit relation to said structure. I 20. In combination with a tire-core and a pzgjeeting shaft for. supportingthe same,- d placing apparatus comprising means for supporting'a'n annular head in concentric relation to said shaft, said means being slidably mounted for axial movement wit relation to said shaft, a fluid-pressure cylinder surrounding said shaft, and means ggtiaated by said cylinder for pressing said a 1 21. Tire building apparatus comprising means for. supporting a tire-core, a tire-core thereon, a tool mounting slidably mounted for movement axially of said core, from and toward the latter, a tire-tool rotatably mounted on said tool mounting, means for driving said tool, means for moving said mounting from and toward said core, means actuated by the movement of said mounting,

-myhand this 9th da emma toward the core for startin the tool-drivmg means, and means time with said tool 1 driving means for actuating the driving means of said mounting to retract the latter from the core.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set of December 1922. JOH R. GAMMiJTER. 

